The first Jumbo landed at the airport already in 1970. In the summer of 1971 El Al began employing wide bodied aircraft on its regular flights.

The Yom Kippur war, which broke out in October 1973, brought about a sharp decline in civilian aviation traffic and an increase in the number of freighter aircraft, which brought vital military equipment through the airport. Giant C54 and C141 jets landed at the airport a number of times a day for an entire week.

In December 1973, David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel, died.

After his death, the Government of Israel, as a symbol of esteem for his life's work, decided to commemorate him  by naming the airport after him. Lod Airport will henceforth be known as Ben Gurion Airport.

In 1977, the Knesset passed the Airports Authority bill. In accordance with the bill, the Airports Authority in Israel will be responsible for the operation, management and development of airports and border crossings in the State of Israel. After the establishment of the Airports Authority (1977), the management of the Airport was transferred from the Ministry of Transport to the Airports Authority.